{ on the
same page }

we love our community.

What is On the Same Page?

On the Same Page is a new, city-wide reading initiative. Our goal is to foster a community of readers by bringing families together around the same book.

Who is coordinating On the Same Page?

Little Shop of Stories is working in conjunction with the Decatur Book Festival, the Decatur Education Foundation, and the Decatur Rotary Club.

What will On the Same Page do?

Each year, beginning this fall, On the Same Page will select a children's book for local children and their families to read. We will promote the book around the city, and we'll work with schools and libraries, coordinate book groups, lead discussions, and host other book-related events.

Will we get to meet the chosen book's author?

Yes! The program will culminate later in the fall with a grand finale visit from the author.

How can I get involved?

Read the book, join a book group, come to Little Shop discussions and events, and then meet the author!

I'm so excited! What's the 2011 book selection?

We are thrilled to announce that our inaugural OTSP book is the beloved classic The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. This fall marks the 50th anniversary of The Phantom Tollbooth and we can't imagine a better way to kick off our program! Mr. Juster is coming to Decatur on Friday, December 9th at 7 p.m. at Presser Hall at Agnes Scott College. This event will be free and open to the public, but it will be ticketed. Visit www.littleshopofstories.com for more information about ticket distribution.

on the same page events

Book Club Training

Wednesday, September 28th | 7 p.m.

We want as many kids as possible to read The Phantom Tollbooth and have the opportunity to discuss the novel in book groups. If you (adults and teens) are already connected with a group (Girl Scouts, churches, neighborhood, etc.) and would like to volunteer to lead a book group, please attend this informative meeting. Teachers, this includes you! If you don't already have a group in mind but would like to be placed somewhere, you are also invited. We'll have wine and soft drinks, talk about discussion questions, and pass out book group packets with stickers, buttons, and activities for the kids in your group.

Kids & Companions Book Group Discussion

Friday, October 14th | 6 p.m.

This Little Shop group is led by published author Terra McVoy and is open to kids ages 8-11 and the adult of their choice. They will be reading The Phantom Tollbooth, and if you've never attended a Kids & Companions meeting, this would be a great one to try out!

Decatur Day of Reading

Tuesday, October 25th

The special 50th Anniversary Edition of The Phantom Tollbooth is released today, and Mayor Bill Floyd has issued a proclamation and declared October 25th the 2011 Decatur Day of Reading! If you bring your copy of The Phantom Tollbooth into Little Shop of Stories (or if you buy a copy today) we'll give you 20% off your entire purchase. Join Little Shop's staff for a reading of their favorite chapters at 4 pm.

Movie Screening at the Decatur High School Auditorium

Thursday, October 27th | 7 p.m.

The Phantom Tollbooth film (1970) was directed by Academy Award winner Chuck Jones, a key player during the Golden Age of Animation and creator of beloved characters like Road Runner, and Wile E. Coyote. Bring your whole family out to enjoy this free movie screening and see how you think the movie measures up to the book.

Catch All Book Group Discussion

Monday, November 7th | 7 p.m.

Little Shop's adult group is getting On The Same Page this month and we'll be reading the book, too.

Little Shop Discussion, Debate, and Spelling Bee

Thursday, November 17th | 7 p.m.

Which is better: words or numbers? Would you rather live in Digitopolis or Dictionopolis? Now that you've read the book and seen the movie, it's time to come together and discuss. We'll have snacks, readings from the book, discussions, a spelling bee, and a debate about the superiority of words vs. numbers.

Norton Juster Author Visit

Friday, December 9th | 7 p.m.

The grand finale of our 2011 OTSP program is a visit from Norton Juster himself! The event will be held in Presser Hall at Agnes Scott College. Don't miss the culmination of our program at this special reading and signing where Leonard Marcus, author of The Annotated Phantom Tollbooth will interview Norton Juster.This event will be free and open to the public, but it will be ticketed. We will have more information about ticket distribution closer to the event.

About the Book

Milo is a dreadfully bored child who doesn't see meaning or purpose in anything. One day he discovers a tollbooth in his bedroom, and since he has nothing better to do, he pays the toll and drives through. Milo finds himself in The Lands Beyond, a magical and mysterious world full of odd characters and epic adventures. He meets a watchdog with a giant clock for a body named Tock, goes to a banquet where he must eat his words, mines for numbers, conducts a symphony of colors, and sets out on a journey to rescue the two Princesses, Rhyme and Reason, from demons. Full of puns, word play and irony, The Phantom Tollbooth has become a must-read for children and adults alike.

About the Author

The Phantom Tollbooth, written by Norton Juster, was originally published in 1961, which makes this fall the 50th anniversary of this beloved classic. Back in 1960, Mr. Juster was an architect working on a nonfiction book for children about cities. Like Milo, he got bored, and so he procrastinated on that project by writing snippets about words and puns. This eventually became The Phantom Tollbooth that we know and love today. Even while writing other books, Mr. Juster continued his profession as an architect and a professor. He is now retired and lives in Amherst, Massachusetts.

For more information email info@weareonthesamepage.org

A special thanks to our partners:
DEF, DBF, Decatur Rotary, LSOS

Decatur Rotary Club

{ on the same page }